The BNR (another way)

[L0NGMIRE]

 

[GeraldH]

Workshop staff have been improving their techniques for repairing and upgrading bogies and associated couplings.

 

 

It was noticed that one of the Hornby Speedink wagons, which brings in freight from the mainland, was behaving erratically. It turned out the the moulded spring which centres one of the bogies had snapped off. Staff managed to drill into the end of the assembly and glue in some sprung wire to make the bogie self-centre. When re-fitting the wheelset, one of the securing clips snapped off creating another job. After some head scratching, it was decided the fill the hole in the chassis with Milliput and attach the bogie using a self-tapping screw. The tightness of the screw turns out to be critical, too lose and the coupling flops up and down, too tight and the bogie will not rotate. A wide washer just below the screw head also helps to reduce unwanted movement.

 

 

Work has also been going on upgrading the bogies on one of the line's shortest Triang coaches. The old wheels were removed and replaced with metal 10mm ones from Peter's Spares. Bearings for old axle boxes were made from recycled timber (matchsticks). The old Mark 2 couplings were removed by making a vertical cut either side and the resulting gap filled with Milliput. Some additional material was then glued onto the outer edge of each bogie to provide a base for the newer Hornby couplings. Once trials are complete, the bogies will be off to the paint shop.

 

 

Edited June 11, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The line's flagship locomotive was created over 30 years ago . It began as a Wrenn Class 20 and has two Wrenn Class 08 cabs on the ends. Extra weight was added by casting lead extensions on to the bogies and it was fitted with extra pickups.

The cab sides had to be adjusted so that the doors on both sides were on the inward ends of the cabs. It runs with a bit of a wobble and the sideframes could be improved. The handrails got bent during installation and workshop staff have been unable to straighten them out completely. Perhaps there is a way of straightening handrails once they get bent?

 

 

Edited June 11, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The railway has been working on an extension to Pewsley in recent months which entailed bridging the Ivygale Gorge.  Services have now commenced although some landscaping work is still required.

 

Edited June 11, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The Extension Team have been repairing damaged equipment to reduce the cost of the extension.

The end of a tie-bar on one of the new Hornby points appeared to have snapped off. It was unclear whether this happened before or after delivery and so a repair was attempted. A blob of JB Weld epoxy was stuck onto the end of the tie bar and once it had dried, it was filed to shape. The result is not as fine as the original, but it appears to be robust enough for manual operation.

 

 

JB Weld and probably many other epoxies bonds very well to polystyrene and other railway plastics and it has been used to repair many damaged or missing parts on the line. One of the platform sections for the new terminus had a damaged fixing clip and this was repaired in the same way. The clip has since been filed to shape and works well.

 

[GeraldH]

Santa was recently spotted on the line and seemed to have established a grotto at Pewsley .

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The railway needed a coaling stage for the extension and it was decided to construct on in-house as there were plenty of material available locally.

 

Workers assembled the base of the new coaling stage using the Linka components reinforced with diluted PVA. There was some skimping with the casting material, it was acquired for free and it is not as strong as some of the better materials.

 

 

The frame of a hoist was constructed using recycled materials from the stores (candy floss stick, matchsticks, sawn off Triang coach rivet, one leg from the centre support of a takeaway pizza box & a piece of styrene tube). This required some precision joinery with a razor saw. The hoist will be able to rotate over any locos on shed greatly speeding up coaling .  Workmen can be seen levelling up the hoist rotating mechanism and they are now scratching their heads trying to figure out how to rig up some form of pulley system. Rebuilt Patriots are not normally allocated to Pewsley shed, but it was decided to test things out on one of the line's largest (preserved) steam locos.

 

 

Recycled steel rod (pins) and timber (rounded ends of coffee stirrers) have been used to create the cable run.

 

 

Bricklayers have also been going around the system repointing the various Linka stone structures. The coaling stage hoist is now fully operational and the bucket can be raised and lowered by rotating the wheel from an old car by hand. A second bucket has had to be constructed from recycled plastic waste (an old pen, a bit of SIM card and some handrail) as the first one was too small. The smaller bucket, which was constructed in the same way, has now been put to good use in the goods yard at the junction.

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The summer timetable has commenced and DMU services to England through the tunnel have been strengthened to 3 cars.

 

 

Meanwhile further improvements and landscaping have been taking place on the Pewsley extension and the push pull service is seen awaiting departure from Platform 1.

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The summer timetable means that the preserved steam locos get a bit more use. One of the three Mainline Collett Goods is seen passing through the cutting just outside Pewsley.

 

 

The BNR goods service is seen passing in front of the new tree cover at the junction. Freight is generally handled by the line's diesels, so this is a fairly rare occurrence. The bogie bolster is seen loaded with timber (coffee stirrers secured with cotton) held in place by steel stanchions (panel pins).

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

Various engineering works has delayed freight services and the staff in the goods yard have just finished emptying a wagon from the mainland.

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

Now that most of the trackwork on the Pewsley extension is complete, the track gang have been able to sort out some long standing issues at the junction. After the earthquake improvements were made in the goods yard, but the modified track was never ballasted. A stock of ballast had been built up in the stores (used tea leaves) and this was fixed in place (strong mix of wallpaper paste).

 

 

It's vary rare to see the goods yard empty and so the opportunity was taken to photograph the branch passenger train in platform 2. This week it is being hauled by a preserved R1. This loco and a Pug called Desmond are visiting the line. The Emperor agreed to service both locos in the BNR's workshops in return for a Christmas banquet .

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The new points on the Pewsley extension proved rather troublesome. Partly due to the scarcity of Peco points, a Bachmann curved point and three Hornby standard points were installed. The latest Hornby curved points have worked well at the junction and the Bachmann ones at first glance appear identical. There are, however, subtle differences in clearances which do seem to cause issues with some stock. The Bachmann curved point was causing regular derailments with finer profile wheels and was replaced some time ago.

The differences between Peco and Hornby standard Settrack points are more obvious and the Hornby point connecting the engine shed has been causing issues with departing trains. This is a real problem with some Mainline locos as well as the Triang DMU with its modern Hornby wheels.

 

 

The Re-railing Team got fed up with being called out every few days and the Operations Department found it increasingly difficult to work out which locos would safely negotiate the points. Due to the location of the point some electrical work was required and to reduce ground works cables were connected directly to the point before installation.

 

 

Installation has now taken place and as a result there have been no more complaints about spilt beverages from passengers .

 

Here are the gangers busy replacing the troublesome point at Pewsley.

 

 

Further comparison of the Hornby and Peco points have revealed that the curved check-rail begins slightly nearer the toe of the Peco point and this seems to be making a significant difference as no derailments have taken place since installation.

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

During summer more of the services are steam hauled. The preserved Black 5 was not a regular on the branch in the past, but now that the line has been extended some of the larger locos do venture up there. The front bogie was derailing at both Globble Island and Ivygale and closer inspection revealed that the ramps for the automatic mail coach were slightly lifting the front bogie causing it to derail. The engineers managed to squeeze in some extra weight over the front bogie using some lead offcuts. They also took the opportunity to modify the bogie to accept the BNR's standard medium couplers which are a necessity with the line's sharp curves. A test run has proved successful and the loco has now returned to service after a quick touch up in the paint shop.

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

It's time for Santa Specials on the Island of Ballybongle. Santa flew in and was spotted sneaking out of the grotto to buy an ice cream. He's obviously used to the cold!

 

 

The clerestory rake has been dusted off for a special train to Pewsley. Congestion at the junction meant that the run run loop was not available for the preserved pannier tank and so the station pilot BNR No 5 had to help out.

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The cold weather has spurred on management to finally address the long promised overall roof at Pewsley on the extension. There was much debate as to how this should be constructed and it was decided that Linka alone would not be robust enough to withstand potential earthquakes. A composite timber and Linka construction is therefore being produced. This is the first time such an approach has been attempted and it has proved rather challenging for the carpenters and stonemasons. One wall is now slowly coming together, although there is clearly a need for more mortar on a couple of the joints!

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[Din]

On 10/04/2021 at 16:58, GeraldH said:

Meanwhile further improvements and landscaping have been taking place on the Pewsley extension and the push pull service is seen awaiting departure from Platform 1.

 

 

What's the push pull set? Looks good!

[GeraldH]

On 07/01/2022 at 20:35, Din said:

 

What's the push pull set? Looks good!

 

Thank you.  It was converted from a Triang suburban brake coach in the BNR's workshops. Side windows were added along with a GWR autocoach bell and the BNR's patented push pull apparatus which seems to work with all their locos :) . Here's a better image of it at the junction.

 

 

Edited May 6, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

Work is continuing on Pewsley's overall roof. It seems that the carpenters may not have got everything quite right and a few tweaks might be needed to the roof beams. The stonemasons have made good progress, although those arches don't seem very well supported!

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

Work continues on the long delayed completion of Pewsley Station. The stonemasons have more or less finished the supporting walls and they do look very robust with their timber (ply) reinforcement.

 

 

The original station building at Pewsley had a pitched roof and it has been decided to reuse this to provide facilities within the overall roof. The roofers never did a great job and as the building will be protected by the overall roof it has been decided to remove the pitched roof.

To reduce passenger confusion and enhance the corporate identity of the BNR it has been decided to create some new station name boards with integrated stone (Linka) planters. The design team haven't finalised things yet, but they decided to grab the stonemasons while they were on site. The name boards are, however, likely to use steel (nails) posts with timber name boards (3mm ply).

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

Progress continues on the overall roof at Pewsley. Since the photo was taken both supporting walls have been finished along with the beams that support the roof.

 

 

The roof trusses (recycled 3mm ply) have been fabricated off site ready to be craned into position to support the roof. The planters which will support the station name boards have also been moving forward. Staff have been looking n the stores for the station name decals, but can't remember where they put them!

 

 

The BNR's No1 is seen checking clearances before services resume.

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

To reduce the numbers of bewildered passengers and promote the BNR's corporate identity work has progressed on some robust station nameboards to fit into the stone planters. The nameboards themselves are wooden (3mm ply) with steel supports (nails). The supports will be painted in the BNR''s standard French blue, but the boards may be finished in a lighter shade to improve the contrast with the black lettering.

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

Staff finally found the lettering for the station nameboards, although the lettering was ordered before the Pewsley extension was constructed and so the nameboard for Pewsley cannot be completed yet. it was also remembered a little late that the nameboards needed to be gloss varnished before the letters were added to ensure a good finish. Some of the posts are also a little off-piste due to the difficulty of drilling post holes at 90 degrees, but the new signs are much clearer than the old fence mounted ones. Someone now has to find some attractive vegetation to put in the planters. It is likely that some kind of mutant local shrubs will be planted (painted scouring pad).

 

 

Meanwhile the roofers have arrived and have installed the rather over-engineered trusses to the station roof. The line's third preserved Class 16 has snuck into the photo with the track maintenance (cleaning) train. These Class 16s seem to be breeding!

 

 

The next stage will be putting the slates on which looks like quite a big job. There is also some useful advertising space on the supporting walls which should generate some extra revenue

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The roofers have arrived and spent the day putting slates (scored 150gsm card) on the overall roof. The lack of vents could make things a bit smoky in there, but most services use the BNR's patented push-pull system which means that steam locos rarely enter.

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The roof is complete with some nice BNR French Blue bargeboards to finish it off 

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH

[GeraldH]

The paintshop has a lot of very old enamel paint most of which is still usable after 20-30 years, but it does take some stirring and sometimes the addition of thinners. Stirring by hand can be a bit tedious, but using a stirrer in a drill is a bit risky as there is always the possibility of knocking over the can and covering the paintshop and it's operatives in paint. In a moment of inspiration one of the paintshop staff realised that they could borrow a large clamp from the workshop team. The expo stirrer can now be mounted in drill no low speed and the old paints (mostly) restored

 

Edited April 27, 2022 by GeraldH